Car rental giant Europcar has announced a €100 million investment in Ireland, opening three new locations across Dublin, Donegal, and Tipperary while creating 15 new jobs. The expansion includes new branches in Sandyford, Dublin, Clonmel, Tipperary, and Donegal Airport. Additionally, the company has relaunched its Dublin North Cloghran location as a dedicated B2B and Van … Read more
More than one-third of Irish taxpayers would accept lower quality public services in exchange for reduced taxes, according to a new EU-wide survey on public attitudes to taxation. The European Commission’s Eurobarometer poll of over 1,000 Irish respondents found 35% favour lower taxes even if it means fewer or poorer public services, while 34% support … Read more
Parents say savings from Ireland’s free schoolbooks scheme are being negated by schools requiring expensive digital devices, forcing families into debt to meet back-to-school costs. A new Barnardos survey of 830 parents found that half of primary school parents and 60% of secondary parents worry about affording school costs this year. Digital devices alone are … Read more
New statistics reveal dramatic variations in birth and death rates across Ireland, with some areas experiencing population decline while others show strong natural growth. The Central Statistics Office’s analysis of 2022 data shows Ireland recorded 54,483 births with an overall birth rate of 10.2 per 1,000 people. However, regional differences are striking – Tallaght South … Read more
Ryanair carried a record 20.7 million passengers in July, despite significant disruption from French air traffic control strikes that forced the airline to cancel 680 flights. The Dublin-based carrier’s July passenger numbers represent a 3% increase from 20.2 million in the same month last year, with the airline maintaining a stable 96% load factor across … Read more
The number of children referred to Ireland’s Probation Service reached its highest level in ten years, with 609 referrals for young people aged 12-17 in 2024, representing a 10% increase from the previous year. The Probation Service’s annual report shows 567 boys and 42 girls were referred for community-based supervision rather than custody. The figures … Read more
Nearly 22,000 entire properties are available for short-term rental to tourists and holidaymakers, compared to fewer than 1,800 properties available for long-term renters, new figures reveal. Tourism Minister Peter Burke confirmed that 34,000 short-term lets were advertised across four platforms in May, with approximately 64% offering entire houses or apartments. This represents a 10% annual … Read more
Ireland’s child and family agency Tusla is facing a massive €67.8 million budget overspend this year as it struggles to cope with unprecedented demand for its services. The agency, which had already overspent by €8.9 million by May, warned that costs are spiraling due to increased demand for residential care, fostering, legal services, and support … Read more
The world is experiencing a “plastics crisis” that poses grave dangers to human health from infancy to old age, costing at least $1.5 trillion annually in health-related damages, according to a major new expert review. Published in The Lancet medical journal, the study warns that plastics represent a “grave, growing and under-recognised danger” to both … Read more
Ireland’s 147th railway station will open to the public on Sunday, providing new transport links for communities in south County Dublin. Woodbrook Station, located between Bray and Shankill, will serve the existing and developing communities of Woodbrook and Shanganagh. The station represents a significant investment in public transport infrastructure for the growing residential area. The … Read more
Storm Floris has left approximately 8,000 homes and businesses without electricity after making landfall overnight, bringing damaging winds and localized flooding across Ireland. ESB crews are working to restore power, with Galway, Clare, Mayo, and Donegal among the worst-affected counties as the storm continues to impact the western and northwestern regions. Met Éireann has issued … Read more
Major pipeline repair works across the Greater Dublin Area may cause water supply interruptions throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, Uisce Éireann has warned. The critical repairs affect a major pipeline supplying drinking water to one-third of the Greater Dublin Area. Work began Friday night and will continue through the weekend, requiring the complete shutdown of … Read more
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has issued an urgent recall for Hogan’s Farm Turkey Burgers due to potential salmonella contamination. The affected product is a 400g pack bearing approval number IE 827 EC with a use-by date of July 26. Despite the expiry date having passed, the FSAI is warning consumers who may have … Read more
Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (EVs and PHEVs) have overtaken petrol and diesel models to become the top-selling powertrains in Ireland for July, accounting for 34% of all new car registrations. This marks a significant shift in consumer preference, with petrol cars making up 26%, diesels 17%, and non-plug-in hybrids 22.5%. A total of 26,787 … Read more
US ride-hailing giant Lyft has completed its acquisition of European taxi app Freenow for approximately €175 million, marking the company’s major expansion into the European market. The deal, first announced in April, sees Lyft acquire Freenow from German carmakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Lyft, which has 23.7 million active riders and ranks second to Uber in … Read more